Research

Heckman is noted for his contributions to selection bias
and self-selection analysis especially Heckman
correction, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in
Economics. He is also well-known for his empirical research in labor economics, particularly regarding the
efficacy of early childhood education programs.

Heckman's work has been devoted to the development of a
scientific basis for economic policy evaluation, with special
emphasis on models of individuals and disaggregated groups, and to
the problems and possibilities created by heterogeneity, diversity, and unobserved
counterfactual states.

In the early 1990s, his pioneering research on the outcomes of
people who obtain the GED certificate received national
attention.

His recent research focuses on human development and lifecycle
skill formation, with a special emphasis on the economics of early
childhood education.

Heckman has published over 200 articles and several books. His
most recent books include Inequality in America: What Role for
Human Capital Policy? (with Alan Krueger); Evaluating
Human Capital Policy, Law, and Employment: Lessons from Latin
America and the Caribbean (with Carmen Pages); and the
Handbook of Econometrics, volumes 5, 6A, and 6B (edited
with Edward Leamer).